Jeweled article and method for making jeweled article

ABSTRACT

A process for making a jeweled article of manufacture comprising providing a void and placing a jeweled decoration in the void. The jeweled decoration includes a housing having serrations and an upper lip, wherein the upper lip secured the jewel to the housing, and the serrations secure the housing within the void in the article. In an alternative embodiment, a bottom ring is placed at a bottom end of the jewel and is secured to the inner surface of the housing so that the jewel is secured within the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relates to the same subject matter as co-pendingprovisional patent application Ser. No. 61/876,467, filed by the sameapplicant on Sep. 11, 2013. This application claims the Sep. 11, 2013filing date as to the common subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a jeweled article and method for makinga jeweled article. It applies particularly to the use of a jewel housinghaving serrations placed in a relief of an article, and will bedescribed with particular reference thereto.

2. Background of Invention

Many ornaments and other articles are decorated with jewel inserts.These inserts allow for attractive designs on the articles, such asflatware. The process of the present invention allows for the use of ajewel inserted in a housing which is in turn inserted in an articlewhich allows the jewel to become securely attached to the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a decorated article and a method fordecorating an article are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take form in various components and arrangements ofcomponents, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawingsare only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are notto be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing.

FIG. 4 a is a bottom view of the housing.

FIG. 4 b is a cross section view of the housing.

FIG. 4 c is a detail view of a lip of the housing.

FIG. 4 d is a detail view of a serration on the outer surface of thehousing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an article embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a jeweled article and a method of making ajeweled article is provided.

The process for making a jeweled article of manufacture includes thestep of creating a void in an article. The article may be metal orsimilar material, so that a void of precise dimensions may be created.For example, the void in a metal article may be created by a laserengraver. The laser engraving is to be performed on a top surface of thearticle. The depth of the relief of the void is appropriate to containthe housing, but may have a diameter of approximately between 2.5 and 8mm.

After the void is created, a jeweled decoration 10 as shown in FIGS. 1and 2 is formed. The jeweled decoration 10 comprises a housing 12 and ajewel 14. The housing 12 is illustrated in FIG. 1-4. The jewel 14 may beglass, stone, ceramic, crystal or some other equivalent material knownin the art. The housing 12 may be made of stainless steel or anotherequivalent material. The housing 12 includes a top portion 16 having aninner lip 18. The lip 18 has a shape that prevents the jewel 14 frombeing removed from the housing 12 after the housing has been inserted inthe jeweled article. For example, the inner lip 18 may have acircumference that is smaller than the circumference of a top portion ofthe jewel 14.

On an outer surface 20 of the housing are one or more serrations 22, asshown in FIG. 4 d. As shown, the serration faces outward from the outersurface of the housing. The serration is shown to be about the middle ofthe outer surface of the housing. However, it may be located at anypoint on the outer surface of the housing which would allow the housingto be secured to the article. The serration may be about a 70 degreeangle having a top surface 24 that is approximately perpendicular to theouter surface 20 of the housing. The serration may be a single point ormay comprise several points which may be evenly or unevenly distributedaround the outer surface of the housing. As shown, the housing 12 may beround; however the housing 12 may also be of any shape complementary tothe void created in the article.

In addition, a bottom element 26 may be provided, to secure the jewel 14within the housing 12. The bottom element 26 may be a ring to allow morelight into the jewel of the jeweled article. The bottom element may bemade of stainless steel or an equivalent material. In one embodiment, abottom ring 26 has an outer circumference that is slightly less than theinner circumference of the housing 12. The bottom element 26 may securethe jewel 14 through frictional resistance with the inner surface of thehousing. Alternatively, glue or another fastening material may be used.

The method of creating the jeweled decoration of the invention is asfollows. A jewel 14 is placed within the housing 12. The housing 12 isplaced in a complementary void in an article to be decorated. Placementis made by pressing the housing 12 into the void. The pressure may beapplied by hand or machine. One or more serrations 22 on the outersurface 20 of the housing 12 contact the wall of the void such that asthe housing 12 is secured within the void.

The inner lip 18 of the housing 12 secures the jewel within the housingwithin the void in the article. In an alternative embodiment, before thehousing is placed within the void, a bottom element is placed so that issecures the jewel within the housing. The bottom element may be a ringto allow more light into the jewel of the jeweled decoration.

The article created by the method taught is highly decorative andprovides a novel way to decorate an article with a jewel that isattractive and securely embeds the jewel within the article.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are notto scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention.

1. A process for making a jeweled decoration for an article: (a)creating a void having a wall in an article; (b) composing a jeweleddecoration comprising: a housing, and a jewel within the housing,wherein the housing comprises an inner lip at a top portion, and anouter surface having at least one serration wherein the inner lip formsa space having a smaller circumference than the circumference of thejewel; and (c) placing the housing into the void, whereby the at leastone serration makes frictional contact with the wall of the void.
 2. Theprocess of claim 1, further including the step of providing a bottomelement at a bottom portion of the housing before the step of placingthe housing into the void, wherein the jewel is secured between thebottom element and the housing.
 3. The process of claim 2, wherein thebottom element is a bottom ring.
 4. The process of claim 2, wherein thebottom ring is frictionally held against the housing.
 5. The process ofclaim 1, wherein the serration has an angle of approximately 70 degrees.6. The process of claim 5, wherein the void has a diameter ofapproximately between 2.5 and 8 mm.
 7. A jeweled article of manufacture,comprising: an article comprising a void with a wall, and a jeweleddecoration, comprising a housing, and a jewel located within thehousing, wherein the housing comprises an inner lip at a top portion,and an outer surface having at least one serration wherein the inner lipforms a space having a smaller circumference than the circumference ofthe jewel; wherein the jewel is located within the housing, and whereinthe housing is located within the void, wherein the at least oneserration is in frictional contact with the wall of the void.
 8. Thejeweled article of claim 7, further comprising a bottom element locatedat a bottom portion of the housing, wherein the jewel is secured betweenthe bottom element and the housing.
 9. The jeweled article of claim 8,wherein the bottom element is a bottom ring.
 10. The jeweled article ofclaim 9, wherein the serration has an angle of approximately 70 degrees.11. The jeweled article of claim 10, wherein the void has a diameter ofapproximately between 2.5 and 8 mm.